Rendezvous ... Olympics - what a weekend

Trying to keep up with many sports of the Olympics and especially Bobsleigh.  Cousin Joe's son Joey is an alternate so, so far, he hasn't raced, but that doesn't mean he won't yet.  

Also watched the medal rounds of hockey, skating, some speed skating, snowboarding, etc. ect.  TV finally isn't boring.

Even though he isn't racing, we do, every once in a while, get a glimpse of Joey as he assists his teammates while they are unloading.

Then there is Rendezvous this weekend.  Went to Whitehorse Elementary to the Fun Fair and F U N  it was.  The kids gambled (above) at the roulette wheel. That's Alanna sporting a feather in her hair and garter on her leg although you cannot see that in this photo and Emerson with his moustache.  Both decked out to celebrate Rendezvous.  

They also went fishing, tossed beanbags in holes, tossed balls in holes, played musical chairs as well as a few other games I am sure I've forgotten.  Above is their first experience at putting.  They won prizes, ate hotdogs and had fun.

Then it was to my house where the kids stayed and the adults (except for me!) left for a Rendezvous adult evening.  Now, as the story goes, as the adults were at dinner, the power went out in downtown Whitehorse but the bar/restaurant continued to whoop it up, ordering food and drinks in the dark.  The revue they then went to see altered its program to play the first half in the dark under flashlight and bicycle light.  Nothing keeps Whitehorse from celebrating.

Snow Snow Go Away

Heard it snowed a lot overnight while listening to the radio this morning.  Went outside to do a quick shovel and found it was well over one foot - in fact my snow banks are so high on the side of the driveway I cannot throw the snow up to the top anymore, it just comes tumbling back down.  After over two hours of shovelling, with the snow still falling, it made me think, "what am I doing living here?"  

I, Tonya

We don't get movies I am interested in for months and months, then they all come at once.  This story of course intrigued me as I remember the scandalous headlines of this incident.  We were all ready to hate Tonya and love Nancy.  But there was always more.

This movie of course tells Tonya's side of the story and how the cards were stacked against her from the beginning of her life.  It tells the story of a strong girl who rises to the top despite the adversities blocking her way, some self inflicted, others not.  She never pretends to be someone she is not.  The acting is superb.  You have "red-neck" Tonya (Margot Robbie), the mother you love to hate (Allison Janney), the pencil moustached wife abusing husband (Sebastian Stan) and the ever eating would-be international counter-terrorism expert (Paul Walter Hauser).  This movie has an interesting format which moves it along quickly and despite the subject, there are many laugh out loud parts. The movie is up for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards.  I highly recommend it. 

 4 Stars out of 5.

Family Weekend

Had the kids over for the first sleep-over in over two months!  (lots of "overs' in that first sentence!!)  We had a great time together, watching Paw Patrol (I tried to get them to watch one of my favourite movies, Paddington, but they really really didn't want to), eating (sometimes chocolate) and doing crafts.  I wish I had taken a photo of their Valentine's Day cards they made for Mamma and Daddy.  They worked so hard on making them beautiful.  Emerson did make three pictures for me though and above is one of them.  It is an Alien with spikes which helps to protect it from Dinosaurs trying to eat it.  It is now on my wall.

Sunday evening I was invited to their house for a roast beef dinner (which was absolutely delicious) and who was there as well but Auntie Em & Henrik, who is now sitting on his own and eating baby food.  He is still small enough to be sitting on the table. 

The table was set waiting for the Roast to come out while little Henrik was fed.  Emerson and Alanna had trouble waiting for dinner as well so they started early on their veggies.

Yes they were hungry and Emer couldn't even put his head up for a photo.  He was busy gulping down the avocado half he took from his plate.

Was a great weekend with the family even if it was a little cold ... -30C, so too cold for outdoor activities , but lots to do inside.

The Shape of Water

I had to think about my opinion of this movie before putting it on this blog.  I attended the movie really wanting to like it.  It had such positive reviews and was up for so many awards.  I liked the actresses (didn't really know the actors) and loved the title.  When discussing the film over a glass of wine, my two companions absolutely loved it.
The story took place in the early 1960's.  They couldn't have captured the era any better, from the cars to the clothes to the TV shows to the colouring they used while filming.  It was the cold war time and this was reflected in the story line.  This is not defined as a "Horror" movie.  I define it as a Weird Weird movie.  The imagination of the writers must be applauded as they silently weave loose ends into the story.  The Good Guys were very very good and the Bad Guy was very very Bad.  This movie seemed to have all the necessary components and when I think of it like this, I like it.  But I didn't Love it.  I give it 3-1/2 Stars out of 5.

February 04, 2018 ... Home Again, Home Again ...

Look who I found at the Airport!  His mother IS behind him (in the doorway) but he was so far ahead and spotted me immediately.

Then came Alanna entangled in SR.

They came in twos - two adults, 2 kids, 2 dogs and lots of luggage.  And they hit winter head on.  The temperature was about -34°C at the airport.

It was almost like Christmas all over again once at home.  They rediscovered all their toys in each of the rooms.

The dogs also settled in quickly after a two month absence.

Catching Up

Terry was in town this week, and, as we seem to always do when she is here, the three of us got together for food and news.  Boston Pizza was the setting and we got caught up on what we are all doing.  

And it was a cold evening once again.  We have had quite a few spells of -30 to -40 weather this year and we are all TIRED of it!!!  This night was not exception.

When it is colder that -30°C my truck says "forget it, I am not registering the temperature any more.  I'll just show it as ---°C!".  So, on the drive home is was colder than -30!  Ohhh, can't wait for spring.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

I didn't know quite what to expect with this movie.  I enjoy Frances McDormand's acting (re Fargo).  I also knew she won Best Actress at the Golden Globes. The day I went to view the movie, the Oscar nominations came out and she again was up for Best Actress, and the movie nominations included Best Supporting Actor (x 2), Best Original Music Score, Best Screenplay and Best Editing.  It is a Black Comedy centred around the rape and murder of Mildred's (McDormand) daughter.  Mildred became a Vigilante.  Not a subject I would think I would enjoy, but enjoy I did.  You never knew what was going to happen in the next minute.  Thus, the movie was over before I knew it.  Woody Harrelson was excellent and Sam Rockwell beyond superb in their rolls.  I was glad I saw the movie and give it 4 out of 5 Stars.

Paddington 2

Over the Christmas season I watched the first Paddington Movie to see if it would be appropriate for three years olds to watch.  My plan was to watch for a bit, then choose a program that was age appropriate for ME.  I enjoyed it so much, to my surprise, that I watched it right to the end and didn't want it to end.  So when the second movie came out, I was anxious to see it.
The movie theatre was almost empty for a Saturday afternoon matinee.  Bad for the theatre, good for me.  Paddington 2 was just as endearing as the first movie.  You cannot help but fall in love with the polite little bear.  I also applaud the roles that Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville play.  The story is a little complicated for three year olds but I don't think that would matter too much.  It was fixed, I discovered, at a six year old level as the six year old I attended the movie with was happily putting all the pieces together and making total sense of the movie.  And, apparently, there were a few people that left having shed a wee tear or two at the end.  It is an endearing sequence to the first movie and excellent entertainment for the whole family.  I give it 5 out of 5 Stars!

Christmas Again

Just realized that I neglected to insert the First Christmas Dinner I had in the year 2017.  It was special because:
1.  It was with my family
2.  It was the first Christmas Henrik Hoefs joined the table

It will probably be the last year Henrik will be standing on the dinner table.

And here is the crew.  We also had Chloe, the au pair,  joining the celebrations.  This all took place at the end of November, a couple of days prior to the departure of my family, on their "adventure" trailer trip down Vancouver way.

January 7, 2018

I must be Canadian as I keep talking about the weather.  It IS changing.  We used to get ice fog when it was -30 or -40 but we didn't get ordinary fog.  This was my view this morning.  Where is Haeckel Hill? Where is the end of my street?  In the last two days we must have had at least 45 cm of snow.  I shovelled my driveway 4 times one day and then again the next morning.  It was fun to see the buzz of all the neighbours out shovelling on Saturday morning though.  How much snow did we get ... I got stuck backing out of my driveway onto the street.  Of course my street is one of the last to be cleared so driving it, being pulled into one tire track, then another, is challenging.

January 2018

Almost a week of -30 with windchills taking the temperature down to -49 then ...  This was the temperature on January 3rd.  Sheesh ... no wonder people are getting the flu.   I just don't want it to go above freezing (like we had earlier).  Too messy with the melting snow.  In fact, during the cold snap we had NO snow so that made shovelling easy.

Pot Luck

Had a real pot luck at Joan's.  That means no planning at all ... could be all salads or all desserts.  As it turned out it was a little bit of everything so it worked out perfectly.  I know it looks like we are standing in a hotel lobby with those beautiful windows in the background, but in fact, that is Joan'a living room.  Think she picked a good apartment to live in. 

Good-bye 2017

The last day of December started out with flashing lights on the street.  The firemen were at a house only three houses away from me.  

Cody, living just down the street and out of eyeshot of the excitement but still in view of lights flashing texted me and I gave her a blow by blow of the happenings on our street.  Turns out not much was happening but it is always exciting to see the fire engines ... as long as it is NOT as my house.

From there, I met my friend Sue and went out for a brunch - guess where.  The brunches are not quite as good as they used to be but you can't beat the view.  Air North was just loading and departed while we ate.  Don't see Sue often, so it was great to catch up with her.

The day was beautiful to look at from the restaurant window.  Not quite so beautiful when we went outside to the truck.  The wind immediately froze my forehead like a brain freeze (except I didn't enjoy the ice-cream that goes with a brain freeze).  -44 with the windchill.  It was a cool one in the city.

Another Year Almost Done

As Christmas week draws to a close I thought I would take a picture of my "tree" before I pack it away for another year.  With the kids gone as of December 01, I didn't see much use in decorating too much, which makes un-decorating very easy.  And now to put this tree in perspective ...

it sits on my counter.  Above, I put the beautiful Salt and Pepper shakers I rec'd from my YYZ bud this year.  Now you can see the actual size of this Xmas decoration.  It wasn't a big tree but did light up my counter each night during Christmas.

And, although I neglected to take a photo, I had a wonderful Christmas Day meal at the Legaré's house, out on the Old Alaska Highway.  The meal was delicious and it was great to spend time with old friends at this special time of year.  That is what Christmas is all about and although my family was miles away, my heart was warmed by the companionship of friends and their families during this holiday season. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve and was invited to Debbie's house for a family turkey dinner.  The meal was delicious - and it was lovey to enjoy a meal with the family, especially at this special time of year. 

                                      

We had crackers and one of the prizes was a magnifying glass.  This is how close you had to look with this powerful instrument - but it did work.

The best of all was seeing the excitement of Silas and Ella. They were tracking Santa on the iPad, who happened to be in Santiago Chile at that time.  And they could open one gift - both opened a nerf rifle but without batteries could only pretend to shoot bullets.

In his excitement Silas even kissed Ella.  A bit of brotherly love on Christmas Eve.

Winter Solstice

The shortest day - the longest night.  But the sky was clear and the sun was shining in the little time it had to shine.  It was so pretty with the newly fallen snow.  Hope the cooler temperature keeps up.  It is -19°C as I speak and that is the way we want it.  No more 0 or warmer till March please.  And the good news is that after today, our daylight hours get longer and longer and longer .... 

Almost Christmas - December 19

Popped in to the Legaré's house on the Old Alaska Highway for tea this afternoon.  The cold weather has returned as it was around - 14°C.  We had a lovely tea then a wee walk around their immediate property (as someone has a bad hip!!!).  SR phoned while I was there.  He was driving to YVR from Horseshoe Bay and it had snowed 6 inches in one hour and the traffic was at a standstill.  Well, that's Vancouver drivers for you!

December 15 2017

Last Friday, met with Gramma for lunch and touring her around town.  It is hard living in an area with no mode of transportation especially around Christmas.  We both had appointments to keep; ie chiropractor / physio so we both had to be in town in any case.  I pulled out my camera while she did her banking and snapped this photo above on her return.

We have just had - how long has it been now? - two weeks of above 0 temperatures.  This is what is left of winter in downtown Whitehorse.  A pretty sorry site if I do say so myself.  This is also how bright it is at 3:30 PM in the north.

Winter 2017

December 9th ... 4°C and raining.  It looks like dusk at 2 in the afternoon.  Roads are messy, cars even worse ... a steady stream of windshield washer fluid.  Where is winter?  Or perhaps we have been transported down to Vancouver.